Father and son music duo, Rob and Dylan Smith, launched their latest track 'Big Water' on STA FM- a song written about Elsmore legend Ray Mepham.
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Born and raised in Inverell Rob, and his talented guitarist son Dylan, decided to collaborate as 'The Falconeers'. Rob wrote the words and melody for 'Big Water' while Dylan worked on the arrangement.
"When Dylan and I decided to produce some songs together we discussed what we wanted to write about and Ray Mepham's name came up because he's a local hero and one of our heroes as well," Rob said.
They started the project in July last year, writing, arranging, recording and mixing before launching the hit on STA FM last Tuesday with Pam Bush.
"Ray was the first man to breed Murray Cod in captivity after NSW Fisheries biologist John Lake who paved the way.
"The story in the song is about Ray's work over the years as a river watcher warning Inverell when floods were coming. He did this for many years up until an automated system was put in on his property "Little Valley".
As a "lifetime born Inverell boy", Ray has seen four major floods and two major droughts. He put a deposit down on the unique gorge country before he was 18 years old.
From observation, Ray believes the current drought is significantly worse than the 65' drought.
"It's really becoming alarming water-wise. We've done a lot of fish work over the years and it tears me apart to see the Macintyre system and major dams lose established Murray Cod after a lifetime of input."
Although the song is out now, an associated 6.5 minute-long video clip will be released via The Falconeers YouTube page on August 15 featuring familiar scenery, recordings of the 1991 flood and even a Lancaster Bomber.
During the 55' flood Ray saw a Bomber flying low over the tree tops inspecting flood damage. Around 50-odd years later, while in hospital, he met a man from Yetman who saw the same plane.
"There wouldn't be too many alive today who saw that bomber," Ray said.
The video unveiling date, August 15 falls on the anniversary of Rob's father Laurie Smith's death. He was a well-known businessman.
To pay tribute to Ray's son Kevin Mepham, who lost his life in a tragic accident at the age of 55, a image of him fishing the gorge also features in the video.
For more information, or to watch the video, search for The Falconeers on YouTube.
